Latest news with #DelhiPreservationofTreesAct
Time of India
02-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nand Nagri Flyover Gets Green Signal
New Delhi: The construction of the Nand Nagri flyover, which extends from the Mandoli prison complex to Gagan Cinema on Mangal Pandey Marg, has overcome a significant obstacle. It has received a special area exemption under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), enabling a tree officer to make the final decision on the felling or transplantation of trees in the project's path. The flyover, which will serve as a crucial link between UP's Ghaziabad and Wazirabad in Delhi via Signature Bridge, is one of the 77 road interventions identified by govt a few years ago to reduce congestion in the city. Passing through the Gagan Cinema traffic signal, the aim of the flyover is to provide a signal-free route to people heading to Ghaziabad and those moving towards Seemapuri and other areas. "...for seeking permission under Delhi Preservation of Trees Act for transplantation, felling of 27 trees affected… in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 29 of DPTA, the LG, hereby, in public interest, exempts an area of 2.16 hectares, from the limitation of maximum one-hectare area for construction of flyover at Nand Nagri and Gagan Cinema junction of Mangal Pandey Marg, including elevated corridor," the notification stated. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi However, there are certain conditions that have been laid out. The notification for exemption shall not be considered as permission for transplantation or felling of trees but shall be scrutinised independently and separately by the tree officer (central forest division). The officer will consider all relevant court orders with due application of mind, minimising the number of affected trees to be transplanted or felled from within the exempted area, the notification stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo Currently, work on the approach road in front of the prison complex is on while the pillars of the flyover have been erected. Officials said about 70% of the work is complete. As per the plan, the 1.5km-long flyover will comprise six lanes and six U-turns have been proposed to be built under it. The first will be constructed near Nand Nagari police station, followed by two back-to-back U-turns, which will be 500 metres ahead of the turn near the police station. Another set of back-to-back U-turns have been proposed near the Gagan Cinema bus stop, and another after the Gagan Cinema junction. To improve aesthetics in the area, PWD will carry out mural work under the elevated corridor. The two existing traffic junctions under the proposed flyover will also be improved. Work on the footpath, drainage system, landscaping work, road signages and road safety fixtureswill be carried out too, said an official.
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi may soon get its 3rd flyover with trees
The public works department (PWD) is preparing to open the Nand Nagari flyover to traffic by August—even as trees remain standing in the middle of its carriageway due to pending forest clearances. The 1.5km stretch, part of Delhi's ₹ 157.85 crore push to make Wazirabad Road signal-free, is nearly 85% complete, officials said. But delays in securing tree-felling permissions have left more than 60 trees rooted along the alignment, raising concerns about potential traffic hazards. Trees in the middle of the road on Nand Nagari flyover. (Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times) If opened in its current state, the flyover will become the third in Delhi where vehicles are forced to navigate around standing trees. Earlier this year, the Anand Vihar and Punjabi Bagh flyovers were inaugurated with full-grown trees left under or even between traffic lanes, as the forest department's nod failed to arrive in time. The PWD is now taking a similar approach here—treating the removal of trees as a 'pending work' to be handled post-opening through a supplementary agreement. 'Opening the traffic flow is a priority as it will offer relief from congestion along the stretch,' said a senior PWD official, adding that the agency aims to make the flyover operational around Independence Day. A report dated June 21 said the core structure will be ready by July-end. However, it flagged multiple safety concerns, including sewer lines and manholes obstructing the retaining wall near the Nand Nagari depot, debris on service roads, and missing drain covers—each posing accident risks. 'Debris, silt and malba near the ramp must be removed immediately… Lighting should also be improved for safe traffic movement at night,' the report stated. The project, which began in February 2023, was originally slated for completion by July 2024. In addition to the elevated corridor, it includes road improvements, footpaths, upgraded drainage, and rainwater harvesting. The six-lane flyover starts from the Nand Nagri junction and ends near the Gagan Cinema T-junction, covering a 1,500-metre stretch of National Highway-9. It serves commuters travelling between North Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and connects densely populated colonies such as Dilshad Garden, Gonda, Mustafabad, and Karawal Nagar. Tree-related delays have proved to be a major stumbling block. While 63 trees are listed for felling or transplantation—36 on the e-Parivesh portal and 27 under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA)—approvals are still awaited. On June 4, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena invoked a special exemption under Section 29 of the DPTA to lift area restrictions and allow the application to be reviewed. However, final clearance from the forest department is still pending. Once operational, the corridor is expected to halve the current 30-minute travel time for those commuting to Bhopura via Signature Bridge. A foot overbridge on the stretch will be demolished and replaced with a subway for pedestrian access.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
SOP for tree felling to be tweaked in city after HC order
New Delhi: Delhi govt's standard operating procedure (SOP) on felling or transplantation of trees will need to be revised, as Delhi High Court has incorporated additional requirements to make the process more effective. In a recent order, HC underlined it is dealing with "the rights of the citizens of Delhi and the rights protected under Article 21 of the Constitution to live in a clean and pollution-free environment" and passed a slew of directions designating the forest department's tree officer to account for the overall impact on the green cover in the neighbourhood, the age of trees, and the ecosystem supported by them, with the possibility of the tree surviving transplantation, before giving the nod for felling. Justice Jasmeet Singh noted that the "tree officer is a repository of the public faith and trust", directing that in addition to the SOPs which are already gazetted, the deputy conservator of forest or tree officer will be involved at the planning stage of a project that involves tree felling or transplantation. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "Additionally, the compensatory plantation shall ensure that the trees which are to be planted are not less than six feet in height, have a nursery life of five years, and a collar girth of not less than 10cm," the court ordered. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Irish homeowners eligible for solar 'bonus' if they live in these eircodes Activ8 Learn More Undo The high court also laid down a requirement where any person or entity seeking a nod to cut trees would need to file an affidavit in court, undertaking to take care of the compensatory planted trees for five years, including watering, maintenance and general upkeep. It said the person giving the undertaking shall file a quarterly report with the latest photographs. The trees sought to be transplanted should not be heavily pruned, the court noted, saying the authorities or tree officer should consider the number of applications made by the proponent for a particular project aside from the total footfall of the project on the environment and not just the site in question, besides the availability of alternative sites. The court said the SOP will function in line with the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, and the post-approval monitoring will be done by the deputy conservator of forest. The court's direction came while hearing a contempt plea where it had earlier noted that a tree was felled every hour in Delhi under official sanction and banned further permissions. The contempt plea said the officials in the national capital were not following the April 2022 directions requiring tree officers to spell out reasons for permitting the felling of trees.
The Print
26-06-2025
- General
- The Print
Tree felling: Delhi HC passes directions to ensure effective implementation of SOP
In addition to the SOP which are already gazetted, the court directed the deputy conservator of forest (DCF) or tree officer to be involved at the planning stage of a project which involved tree felling or transplantation. Justice Jasmeet Singh underlined the rights of the citizens of Delhi and the rights protected under Article 21 of the Constitution to live in a clean and pollution free environment. New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has passed a slew of directions to ensure the effective implementation of the standard operating procedure on felling or transplantation of trees in the national capital. 'Additionally, the compensatory plantation shall ensure that the trees which are to be planted are not less than 6 feet in height, have a nursery life of 5 years and a collar girth of not less than 10 cms,' the judge said on May 20. The court said the applicant seeking felling of trees would file an affidavit, undertaking to take care of the compensatory planted trees for five years, including watering, maintenance and general upkeep. The trees sought to be transplanted should not be heavily pruned, it added. The authorities or tree officer, the court said, should consider the number of applications made by the proponent for a particular project aside from the total footfall of the project on the environment and not just the site in question besides the availability of alternative sites. The officer was tasked to further account for the overall impact on the green cover in the neighbourhood, age of trees and ecosystem supported by them with the possibility of tree surviving transplantation. The court said the SOP will function in line with the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act and the post-approval monitoring will be done by the DCF. The court was dealing with a contempt plea for non compliance of judicial orders over preservation of trees after the high court observed a tree was felled every hour in Delhi under official sanction. The contempt plea said the officials in the national capital were not following the April 2022 directions, requiring the tree officers to spell out reasons for permitting felling of trees. 'It would be appropriate that the tree officer(s) give due consideration to transplantation of each tree which is sought to be cut, before granting any further permission for cutting of trees. This would entail inspection of the trees which are sought. The reason for grant or denial of permission would have to be spelt out in the order of the tree Officer along with photographs of each tree,' the high court on April 28, 2022 said. PTI SKV SKV AMK AMK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Govt housing project in Kasturba Nagar: Delhi L-G V K Saxena grants exemption to consider requests for cutting trees on nearly 9 hectares
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has granted an exemption to allow the processing of tree-cutting and transplantation requests over an area larger than the usual one-hectare limit for a government housing project at Kasturba Nagar Phase-II. This allows the tree officer to decide on the felling or transplantation request for 856 trees that will be affected by the proposed construction. According to the gazette notification dated June 13 and made public Sunday, the exemption has been given for 8.90 hectares of land where the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) plans to construct General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA). The project site falls under the jurisdiction of the South Forest Division. Under Section 9(3) of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994, applications for felling or transplantation of trees are typically allowed only for areas of up to one hectare. However, since the GPRA project involves a much larger area, the tree officer of the South Forest Division had written to the government seeking special permission. Acting on this request, L-G Saxena, using the powers available under Section 29 of the DPTA, approved the exemption for the full 8.90 hectares. The notification stated that the exemption is being granted 'in public interest' to facilitate the construction of government housing at the site. However, the exemption does not mean permission to cut or transplant trees has been granted. The notification emphasised that this step is only meant to allow the tree officer to consider the application for such a large area legally. The initial request to fell or transplant 856 trees within the project site is to be scrutinised independently and separately by the tree officer under DPTA 1994 provisions. As per the notification, the tree officer will consider the application independently under all applicable laws, rules, guidelines, and court directions. The officer must also 'minimise the number of affected trees to be transplanted/felled from within the exempted area' while reviewing the proposal. The boundaries of the exempted 8.90 hectares of land have been marked in detail, and the geo-coordinates shared in the notification.
